Bryan and Sock out to cap incredible six months

* Australia coach Graham Arnold named Mark Milligan captain of the Socceroos on Saturday, the defender succeeding Mile Jedinak who retired from internationals last month. Milligan, capped 72 times for Australia, has previously led the side on 11 occasions, and first wore the captain’s armband against the Republic of Korea in July, 2013. * Australia midfielder Massimo Luongo scored a stoppage-time equaliser to earn a 1-1 draw with the Republic of Korea in an entertaining friendly at a rain-drenched Lang Park in Brisbane on Saturday (Nov 17). * Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic is expected to be sidelined for at least two weeks after the Liga champions said on Saturday he had strained his right hamstring in Croatia’s 3-2 home win over Spain in the Nations League on Thursday. * Japan’s two-time Olympic champion Yuzuru Hanyu overcame an injury to his right ankle to win the men’s title, while Pyeongchang gold medallist Alina Zagitova won gold in the women’s competition at the Rostelecom Cup on Saturday (Nov 17). * Sheikh Ahmad al-Fahad al-Sabah, a former Kuwaiti minister and one of the most powerful officials in international sports, has been charged in Switzerland with forgery, according to a corroborated media report on Saturday (Nov 17). * Badminton’s top-ranked players both made shock departures from the Hong Kong Open on Saturday (Nov 17) after Kento Momota was stunned 18-21, 21-16, 21-19 by Son Wan-ho and Tai Tzu Ying retired with a waist injury.